CMS approves Montana Medicaid expansion plan

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday approved Montana’s plan to expand Medicaid coverage in January to adults aged 19 to 64 with incomes below 138% of the federal poverty level. Under the five-year demonstration, authorized by the legislature in April, some enrollees who are not medically frail or exempt under federal or state law will pay a premium equal to 2% of their income. Montana is the 30th state, plus the District of Columbia, to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act. “MHA is pleased that CMS has approved the waiver that will provide access to health care coverage to an additional 70,000 Montanans,” said Dick Brown, president of the Montana Hospital Association. “After nearly four years of unwavering hard work the wait is over; this is a terrific outcome for Montana.”